1000 x 90

Friday’s ‘Party with the Peacocks’ Event a Blast

Peacock in the white shirt directs the Marching Mountaineers. Photos by Dave Mayo
Peacock in the white shirt directs the Marching Mountaineers. Photos by Dave Mayo

By Jesse Wood

May 5, 2014. Students at Appalachian State University held a “final sendoff” for outgoing Chancellor Kenneth Peacock and his wife Rosanne at Durham Park last Friday.

The event, which featured carnival games, food and live music, was collaboration between the Student Government Association, Appalachian Popular Programming Society, Appalachian Student Ambassadors, club counselors, the Office of Student Conduct and the Office of the Chancellor.

“It was a blast … and our way to express thanks and celebrate with him and the first lady of our school,” Student Body President Dylan Russell said on Monday.

Russell added that Peacock embodies what it means to be a member of the Appalachian family and that the outgoing leader always put the “needs, wants and desires” of students above all else.

“We are indebted to his work on campus,” Russell said.

The event featured free food, inflatables, carnival games and live music from The Marching Mountaineers, Treble Attraction, Mountain Ayres, Enharmonix, Voicemale, Ear Candy, Northern Lights and Higher Ground. The Marching Mountaineers presented Peacock with a framed photo of Kidd Brewer Stadium and the student body created a huge banner with personal notes to the Peacock family.

Two hundred t-shirts with a “Party with the Peacocks” logo were given to the staff working the event and attendees on a first-come, first-serve basis. While a dunking booth was one of the fun activities of the day, Peacock wasn’t among the “favorite Appalachian administrators” to become drenched.

However, he did dunk Russell.

“He’s not of good arm, so he walked up and pressed the button,” Russell said.

Peacock became ASU’s sixth chancellor in 2004. He joined the institution in 1983 as a faculty member of the Walker College of Business’ Department of Accounting and steadily moved through the ranks. Incoming Chancellor Sheri Noren Everts assumes the chancellor’s duties July 1.

Check out photos from the event below.

All photos by Dave Mayo.

  • DMayo_0010
    Two hundred of these “Party with the Peacocks” t-shirts were printed and handed out at the event.
  • DMayo_0731
    The celebration was held at Durham Park on the campus of ASU.
  • DMayo_0736
    Live music was provided by The Marching Mountaineers, Treble Attraction, Mountain Ayres, Enharmonix, Voicemale, Ear Candy, Northern Lights and Higher Ground.
  • DMayo_0741
    The banner from the student body to the Peacocks with personal notes
  • DMayo_0743
    Friday was a beautiful day for an outdoor event.
  • DMayo_0747
  • DMayo_0750
  • DMayo_0752
  • DMayo_0754
  • DMayo_0763
  • DMayo_0766
  • DMayo_0770
  • DMayo_0776
    Rosanne and Kenneth Peacock at the “Party with the Peacocks” bash organized by students for their beloved outgoing chancellor.
  • DMayo_0779
  • DMayo_0785
  • DMayo_0791
  • DMayo_0797
  • DMayo_0803
  • DMayo_0810
  • Peacock Poster
  • Who's Next